BSIA meetings have a relaxed atmosphere, and we aren’t concerned with the occasional stray light. Nevertheless, we ask that you consider the high density of sensitive astronomy equipment when moving around at The Hub. Telescopes don’t like to be knocked, so please try to keep an awareness of the space immediately around you – particularly behind you!
Most of our members will gladly share a view through their telescope or binoculars, but please be careful not to use anything without asking. When using someone else’s telescope, remember that it might have cost them a lot of money. Try not to touch it (aside from focusing) and ask them to help you if an adjustment is needed.
Important:- Our meetings at The Hub are effectively hosted by the café at the Hub, its presence and willingness to provide staff for the evening makes the BSIA meetings possible. Please do not bring your own food and drink to our meetings. We ask you to support the café by purchasing your refreshments from the cafe during the course of the evening. This includes hot and cold drinks, alcohol and food. The management of the cafe do much to support our meetings, they solely open the cafe for us at meeting evenings and we must support them in return. Without them, BSIA would not currently be possible.
Also, can we please ask for people to try to indicate if possible whether or not you are coming to the meeting? This helps us plan better and have a more realistic idea of numbers. We know many of you never will be 100% certain, even on the day of the meeting, but letting us know either by email or on our Facebook pages would be very useful. If possible, indicate whether you will be likely to be going by hitting the ‘Going’ or ‘Interested’ button on the Event page of our Facebook pages and updating if necessary closer to the time.
Although we wish for everyone to have access to our social stargazing events and enjoy the sky safely, we recognise that there is a risk of antisocial behaviour or harassment, and we will take measured steps to mitigate it. Any incident reported to an organiser will be treated seriously, and we will investigate thoroughly and potentially remove and ban any guilty party.
The organisers of the BSIA (the ‘Unofficial Force’) endeavour to be maximally democratic, unprejudiced and secular in the enforcement of this policy. We invite your feedback and will consider amendments at our regular committee meetings.
Additionally, touting for business, selling goods, using laser lights and flying drones are ban-worthy offenses and will not be tolerated at our meetings. Please do not bring any scooters, mopeds, vans or cars along the path to the Hub. There is plenty of places to leave these by the Monkey Gate.